Chapter 114: Consuming the Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed

"Supreme Elder."

"Huai Shan Market, inside a certain residence."

"The Spirit Beast Sect's disciple looked at Xiao Shanhe, who walked in with a grim face, his heart trembled, and he hastily bowed."

"In the room, there were also two other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Spirit Beast Sect, both disciples of Xiao Shanhe, who also held some status in the Spirit Beast Sect."

"Master!"

"Xiao Shanhe waved his hand, signaling the others to retreat, then took the chief seat and accepted the spiritual tea brought by a nearby disciple."

"He slowly took a sip."

"He put down the tea cup, and in a deep voice said: 'Keep an eye on those two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Qingzong Sect! Especially the one named Yunhe!'"

"Upon hearing this, the two disciples' expressions tightened, they exchanged a glance, and one of them whispered:"

"Master, Junior Apprentice Brother Qiyuan really is."

"Xiao Shanhe gave that person a sideways glance."

"That person was startled, hastily bowed and said: 'Disciple understands!'"

"The two disciples then dared not ask further, after being given a few more instructions, they all took their leave."

"Only Xiao Shanhe remained; his forehead veins twitched, but he soon calmed, his expression returning to normal."

"He lifted the tea cup again."

"Two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators wanting to deal with Xiao Qiyuan seemed like Arabian Nights to him, so he did not overly doubt Yunhe and the other's words."

"But there was one thing he valued greatly, especially so!"

"Wei Ming's storage bag."

"Elsewhere."

"Yunhe followed Hua Xin to the relay station of the Qingzong Sect in Huai Shan Market."

"Uncle Hua"

"Before he finished speaking, Hua Xin, who was walking ahead biting into a candied hawthorn skewer, suddenly turned around and glared at him."

"\"What 'uncle'? Call me Master! Do I, Hua Xin, go back on my word? \""

"Upon hearing this, Yunhe secretly shrank his neck."

"Is this picking up a free Golden Core master?"

"Although seeing Hua Xin's youthful appearance made him feel a bit strange, she is nevertheless a bona fide Golden Core cultivator."

"Moreover, she seems stronger than the Spirit Beast Sect's Xiao-surname Golden Core cultivator, at least appearing to be a mid-Golden Core."

"If she were to walk the Qingzong Sect as his disciple, she would not be inferior to Sect Master Kong Zhibai."

"\"Master! \" Yunhe bowed respectfully."

"\"Hmm. \""

"Hua Xin, whose old-fashioned demeanor did not match her appearance, crossed her hands behind her back and nodded."

"He now bore a hint of a Golden Core cultivator's aura."

"But the next second pulled Yunhe out of his daze."

"\"Any more candied hawthorn skewers? The last batch is almost finished. \""

"Yunhe: \"\""

"Seeing Hua Xin's righteous demand for candied hawthorn skewers, Yunhe even wondered if she had taken him on as a disciple just so she could openly demand things from him."

"Under her gaze, Yunhe showed a hint of helplessness and gave an embarrassed laugh."

"\"The last batch is gone, but I still have plenty of spiritual honey here; once I find a chance to buy some fruit, I can make more. \""

"Hua Xin pursed her lips and muttered:"

"\"Be quick. \""

"Yunhe broke into a sweat and quickly replied: 'I know.'"

"\"Alright, you have some questions, just ask directly. \" Having said the most important matter, Hua Xin still spoke directly as usual."

"\"Master, what is the 'Killing Qi Mark'? \""

"Having spent some time together, Yunhe had also come to understand a bit of her temperament, and he asked without hesitation."

"\"Tch. \""

"Hua Xin showed disdain."

"\"The so-called Killing Qi Mark is to attach a wisp of Killing Qi, marking the target as a priority for slaughter; now the fellows of the United Region like to do this. \""

"\"As for Killing Qi, aside from some specialized techniques, ordinary cultivators find it hard to detect. \""

"Saying this, she tossed over a Jade Slip."

"Yunhe instinctively aided himself, scanning with his divine sense, and immediately showed an expression of realization."

"Inside was a rather special secret technique."

"Dispelling Killing Technique."

"\"Any more? \" Hua Xin asked again."

"Yunhe put away the Jade Slip, pursed his lips, hesitated slightly, and asked:"

"\"Master, do I still have any markings similar to the Killing Qi Mark on my body? \""

"\"Oh? \""

"Upon hearing this, Hua Xin, sitting on the chair swinging her legs, gave a meaningful smile that made Yunhe feel a bit uneasy, before shaking her head."

"\"At least, I don't feel anything. \""

"This made Yunhe secretly breathe a sigh of relief."

"Hua Xin jumped down from the chair, walked to his side, and reached out."

They patted Yunhe's arm.

The cute smile on Yunhe's face also somewhat restrained.

"Yunhe, I know you were born a loose cultivator, and you are wary of anyone—that's a good thing."

After a pause, she spoke again.

"However, regarding the sect, you can actually relax a bit; even if someone has many thoughts, we old fogeys aren't that dim-sighted, and furthermore..."

Before she finished speaking, she patted Yunhe's arm again and walked toward the door.

Before leaving, she paused again.

"Go back and solidify your cultivation base."

After Huaxin walked away, Yunhe's eyes flickered slightly with a hint of complexity.

"Do you trust the sect?"

Yunhe scratched the back of his head somewhat anxiously, muttering in a low voice:

"What can I do? I have a persecution complex."

"Junior Brother Yunhe."

Just as he stepped out of the room, Yunhe encountered Hualin.

Looking at him with a hint of sorrow, Yunhe paused, then bowed and said, "Senior Brother Hua."

"It's really great that you're fine." Hualin let out a long sigh, "If you and Junior Brother Chen had both gone missing, I, as their senior brother, would have been utterly derelict in my duty."

After a brief silence, Yunhe said, "This is not the senior brother's fault."

Hualin bitterly twisted the corner of his mouth, shook his head, and said:

"I will truthfully report the market incident to the sect; everything is due to my misjudgment, and if I had ignored it, none of this would have happened."

After saying that, he added, "Junior Brother Yunhe, as long as you're fine."

He then staggered away, seemingly hit hard.

Watching that retreating back, Yunhe couldn't help but frown.

Something's off.

But the problem is he can't feel what's off.

But it's precisely because of that that it's abnormal.

He, Chen Qi, Wei Ming, and Xiao Qiyuan were all swept into the Heaven Insect Sect ruins—really, only Hualin wasn't swept in?

But if he was swept in, how could he appear here?

But if Hualin had a problem, Huaxin should have noticed, right?

"'Forget it, maybe I'm just overthinking.'"

Returned to Qingzong Sect.

After handing in the task to Sect Master Kong Zhibo, Yunhe went to the Administration Pavilion to exchange for some things, then returned to his cave dwelling.

It has to be said, the matter of Huaxin accepting him as a disciple has spread among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Qingzong Sect.

Even Kong Zhibo's attitude toward him became much more amiable; he didn't inquire further about his breakthrough to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base, nor did he reject the request to consolidate his cultivation base.

On the contrary, from Sect Master Kong Zhibo's mouth, I learned quite a bit about the situation of the righteous‑demonic war.

Both sides gradually moved from the initial intense conflict into a relatively mild 'tacit understanding period.'

This greatly eased the tense atmosphere of the Ten Domains Nine Sects.

However, in the Administration Pavilion, he still saw many wanted notices.

Wanted notices for defecting disciples.

In the face of war, there are always some who, out of fear and anxiety, choose to shrink back.

But without exception, all of them were placed on the wanted list, with a Ten Domains Nine Sects‑wide manhunt!

The sect has invested so much cost, resources, and energy in cultivating disciples; if they all flee at critical moments, how can the sect continue?

Therefore, the wanted notice will continue to be disseminated by dedicated personnel, using the Ten Domains Nine Sects' name to communicate with sects outside the Eastern Domain; anyone who slays a cultivator on the wanted list can receive a reward.

This makes Yunhe feel fortunate; if he were to leave and be labeled a defector, then even leaving the Eastern Domain of the cultivation world where the Ten Domains Nine Sects reside would likely bring constant trouble, and he would never again be able to appear in public under his true identity.

Moreover, he would thus find it hard to obtain some of the conveniences that only sect cultivators can enjoy.

Thinking this way, Yunhe's originally somewhat wandering heart calmed down.

Returned to his cave dwelling to enter seclusion.

The first thing Yunhe did was to cultivate the Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Technique.

Relying on his powerful divine sense, as well as his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base and understanding, he spent three months and finally refined the first layer of the Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Technique.

But merely the first layer, Yunhe already felt the power of this technique.

First is divine sense.

Originally his divine sense was already quite outstanding among Foundation Establishment cultivators, able to match that of peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, but after completing the first layer of the Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Technique, he felt his divine sense had further increased!

He wasn't sure if it could rival that of Golden Core cultivators, but it should be stronger than the divine sense of the vast majority of peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Actually, it's simply the number of bees he can control.

Switching from the original Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique to the Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Technique, the number of bees he can control greatly increased, and his bee‑control techniques became more numerous and stronger.

He can also now safely continue incubating bee eggs.

Last is divine sense secret technique.

He has preliminarily mastered the secret technique Heart Insect Technique!

The Heart Insect Technique is a secret technique that can directly attack divine sense, soul, and mind.

If, in combat, the opponent lacks defenses against divine sense and soul, or if their divine sense is considerably weaker than Yunhe's, then the Heart Insect Technique is very likely to exert an unexpected, even decisive, influence on the outcome.

Afterward, Yunhe used the insect‑control art from the Thousand Insects Myriad Insects Technique to achieve control over the Death‑Dormant Cicada.

That Spirit Insect also became the second type of Spirit Insect he controlled outside the Spirit Bee.

However, after that battle, the curled-up Dormant Cicada showed no movement, until Yunhe took out an inferior-grade Breeding Pill, after which it finally regained consciousness.

And it ate the Breeding Pill at lightning speed.

It caused its originally shriveled and rough, like dead wood, appearance to slightly change.

Finally, it had a hint of luster.

But it was still far from reaching the level needed for its next dormancy.

"Take it slow; I don't know when it will next go dormant, and I wonder if I can wait until it wakes up."

After storing it in the Spirit Insect Bag,

Yunhe solemnly took out a wooden box.

"Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed"

The Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed is not a Golden Core spirit object, and it does not help much with Golden Core formation, so naturally the earlier it is taken, the better.

"I don't know how much benefit I will gain; I'm full of doubts and want answers."

Myriad Insects Myriad Worms Technique, Water-Fire Compatibility Theory, Talisman Dao, Alchemy Dao, Artifact Dao, and even Formation Dao!

To avoid wasting the efficacy of the Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed, Yunhe made ample preparations.

Furthermore, considering it might be a mental enhancement, he also had the Demon Beast Body enter seclusion together to try it.

He drew a slight breath.

He took out the Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed from the wooden box and swallowed it in one gulp.

He closed his eyes, calmed his mind and steadied his breath.

Suddenly.

Yunhe felt his consciousness completely emptied, with no stray thoughts, leaving only the question he focused on and a faint, ethereal sound.

The problem that previously felt obscure and hard to understand now seemed extremely simple; just by changing his approach, he instantly gained many answers.

Whether in cultivation methods or in the four Dao of formations, pills, artifacts, and talismans.

It was as if many insights had appeared out of thin air.

This Dao comprehension lasted a full seven days straight.

Only then did Yunhe reluctantly return from that special state.

"So this is what it feels like to be a genius?"

Just as if there were no doubts, everything becomes clear as soon as one thinks about it.

That feeling is truly captivating.

"The Myriad Insects Myriad Worms Technique, as long as one puts in time, will encounter no obstacles upon reaching the third level."

"Talisman Dao Second Stage Upper Grade, Alchemy Dao Second Stage Middle Grade, Artifact Dao First Stage Upper Grade, and even Formation Dao has reached entry level."

Moreover, the secret technique on the Great Longevity Great Five Elements True Scripture has also been found.

This all-around improvement and gain is simply more exhilarating than breaking through a minor realm in cultivation base.

(End of Chapter)